Fastening device for panels or the like



Nov. 16, 1937;

A. P. BALL EASTENING DEVICE Fon PANELs oE THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29, 1954INVENTOR. HZraf 7? BQZJ.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 1(15, 1937 UNITED' STATES FASTENING DEVICE FOR PANELS R 9THE E LIK Aibmr. Bau, Detroit, Mich., assigmr to Buns ManufacturingCompany, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December29, 1934, Serial No. 759,615

4 claims.

vThis invention relates in general to fastener devices of.. the typeparticularly, although not exclusively, adapted for the purpose ofdetachably securing interior trim parts or members of l ,an `automobileor other vehicle body to the body frame work or supporting structure forthe* trim members. The invention is especially useful in connection withfastener devices for moldings, trim panels and vother fabric coveredinterior trim parts of automotiveor other types of vehicle bodies andfinds a wide range of use in various fields where devices of the generaltype herein illustrated may be utilized,

An object of the invention is to provide an l5 improved fastener deviceof relatively simple construction which may'be economically prof duced,thus rendering it of particular desirability in large scale production.

A further object of the invention is to provide o a vdevice of thischaracter comprising a metal retainer base preferably constructed todetachably support a fastener of any preferred type, and wherein themetal retainer into which the fastener is insertable is provided withimproved meansfor anchoring the fastener and adapted to be formed,principally by a stamping operation, in an improved, simple andeconomical manner.

'I'he above and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the fol- 0 lowing description and appended claims whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specication.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly broken.

away, of the inner face of a vehicle door embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially along. the line 2-2 of Fig. ,1.

' y Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the door of Fig. 1,and taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation taken substantially along'the line 4-4of Fig. 3 showing one of the fastening elements and associated parts.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the fastenerdevices and associated parts disassembled; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, of thestructure of Fig. 5 with the parts assembled.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, since the invention is capable of other 'embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intendedto limit the claimed invention herein beyond the requirements of theprior art.'

In one aspect of the invention, herein illustrated by way of example,there is provided an improved trim panel and/or molding assembly whereinthe fabric covered trim panel and molding and the door or other frameportion of the vbody are provided with cooperating fastener portions soconstructed that the trim panel and molding. or either of them, may bereadily and easily mounted upon the body or door frame work.

One of the important'features of the invention is to provide an improvedretainer device or panel for fasteners in which a material saving inlabor is effected in placing the devices in position in the weldingfixture and removing them therefrom after the spot welding operation.

In the present instance, the trim panel shown as a whole at A comprisesa foundation or backing sheet Il formed of thin, sheet steel or othersuitable light weight metal. The outer face of the sheet is covered by atrim fabric material Ill which is preferably folded around the edges ofthe metal backing sheet or retainer base II as shown -at Ilia in Fig. 2and cemented in position so as to provide a laminated sheet. 4'I'hebacking sheet. or trim panel II is preferably shaped to conform to theshape of the door or other body member or part to which it is to beapplied. Around its marginal edges the trim panel Il is provided with aplurality or series of socket members formed therein forsupporting thefastener devices. Each of thesockets is formed by stamping the panel I Ito provide preferably a two-step embossmentcomprising a circular recessI2, anl oifset portion I3 and an aperture I4 formed in the latter. Theembossment 45 .receives a metal `plate or backing piece which, as shown,is in the form of a disk I5 adapted to overlie and to be spot Welded tothe embossment, as shown at I6. The disk I5 and the offset portion I3together provide a socket to detachably 50 receive the legs or baseportions 2i oi' a projecting fastener member 20. This fastener may beformed from a. single piece of wire bent to provide a coil 22 at itsouter end or tip, said coil providing resiliency to the fastener to per-55 mit the legs 2| thereof to be compressed and passed through theaperture Il and snapped into place within the socket, whereuponexpansion of Y the coil will lock them in place. As seen in Fig. 3, thefasteners project through holes or openings 8 formed in the door frameor jamb 9 and serve to hold the trim panel in position upon the dooragainst accidental displacement or removal, yet permittingv its removalwhen and ifv to provide flanges lla having rolled or beaded edges. 'I'herolled edges prevent damage to the folded edge of the fabric and alsooiset the trim panel from the support a distance sufllcient tocompensate for the depth of the embossments.

Referring particularly to Fig. l of the drawing, the upper structure ofthe door on its inner face is provided with fabric covered metal trimmolding members, shown as a whole at 25. These members are in the formof strips of metal of slightly less width than the frame portion orreveal surrounding the window opening and are covered with fabric whichis folded over the edges of the trim molding and secured thereto bycement, in the same manner as the'fabric covering I0 is applied to themetal trim panel Il. The molding strips are also'provided withembossments which together with metal disks corre-V with the presentinvention. The two-step embossxnent and the aperture or opening Ilaremade by a single punching and stamping operation. The recesses I2provide retainers for the disks I5 so that al1 of the disks may bereadily placed or dropped into position in the several -recesses whichretain and locate them during the welding operation. Thus it is noti'iecessary.;4

to provide jigs or fixtures for holding any of the parts for the purposeof welding since the countersunk recesses I2 in the molding or trimpanel form the locating means for the disks II, and after the disks havebeen located, the panel may be passed through the welding apparatus andthe disks successively spot welded to the panel. is effected byeliminating the necessity, as heretofore, of placing the parts to bewelded in a fixture or jig.

I claim:

l. A fastener device comprising a sheet metal base having an embossmentprovided with an apertured offset portion. and a backing piece mountedwithin the embossment and forming with said oifset portion a socket forreceiving and supporting a projecting fastener.

2. A retainer member for a fastener comprislng a metal base having acircular embossment provided with an outwardly oiset portion aperturedto receive a fastener element, and a metal backing disk fitting into theembossment.

3. A retainer member 'for a fastener comprisi ing a metal base havingl acircular embossment provided with an outwardly offset portion aperturedto receive a fastener element, and a metal backing disk fitting withinand attached to saidv Consequently considerable labor saving

